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ffolkes

Help! Leaf tips are drying out

11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago

Hello-

I have a miniature rose that has been doing well, just had about 5 beautiful roses, but now it is going through some sort of problem. At first it was just a few leaves, now it is just about all. It continues to put out new growth, but this problem has become worse. The leaves are drying out at the tips, then turning pale, then the entire leaf turns yellow and mottled and falls off. Some leaves almost have a deep purple hue before they fall off, as shown in the photo below.

This started about 1-2 months ago when I gave it 2 yogurt-cups full of fertilized water (from a gallon that was mixed at 3/4 strength). I had done the same thing months before with no ill-effects. And I only water it with water that has been sitting out, as I understand residual chlorine to be bad for plants.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!


Comments (3)

  • 11 years ago

    You don't say where you live. If it's been very hot and it's in strong all day sun it could be sunburn. Other things could be too much or too little water, they both have the same symptoms. Fertilizer burn usually happens when you spray, not water. Too much fertilizer could have burned the roots though. You may want to re-pot it in a bigger pot with fresh soil. Keep it well watered but not soggy and do not give it any more fertilizer until it has good new growth on it.

    ffolkes thanked seil zone 6b MI
  • 11 years ago

    Thanks. I live in NJ but is is strictly kept indoors. I have other roses that don't always do too well outside, and since this one was flourishing inside, I kept it there. It lives under a CFL light and seems to do very well, growing even now despite the problems. 2.5 months ago I repotted it from the tiny one it came in, into a larger, shallow pot, with a layer of styrofoam peanuts on the bottom, and coarse perlite above that. I was trying to make drainage as quick as possible, since I know roses don't like their feet wet. When I stick my finger all the way down, the soil is slightly damp, but just barely. Is this too dry? I live in constant fear of root rot, so I water sparingly.

    Also, I read that a white crusty layer on top of the soil means too much fertilizer, which now that I look, I do have. My tap water is not hard, so I don't think that stuff is from watering.

    Another thing, for months I have noticed some leaves are curled down at the sides, and those leaves are then curled down toward the ground. Most new foliage is NOT like this though, but I wonder what causes this. Any suggestions?

    Thanks again and happy 4th of July!

  • 11 years ago

    I have a miniature rose and have been extremely successful with it so far. I have it in a southwestern window and the pot sits in a deep plastic container that I keep filled with water all the time. I put a handful of epsom salts on top of the soil when the initial flowers finished and some rabbit food pellets. After this the plant grew like mad and produced 6 new buds. I have some leaves that go yellow but new growth as well. Now that I cleaned all the yellowing leaves off there's another single rosebud growing. Very exciting stuff for me.


    I was given the plant just after Valentine's Day as my friend didn't want it. She has a yard with many many roses and she was the one who instructed me to feed my plant this way.

    Nancy

    BC Canada

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